How to Take Care of a Baby Tortoise

This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Tortoises are relatively easy pets to raise, although you will need some special equipment. Baby tortoises do not need to be treated much different than adults, except that you should take extra care to protect them from any outside dangers, as they are very small and vulnerable. When you get a new tortoise, it is extremely important that you identify what species it is. There are many different species of tortoises that all come from different areas of the world, so their dietary and habitat needs vary.

Choose the right type of enclosure. Your baby tortoise needs a habitat, but not just anything will do. Glass aquariums, which many people use, are actually not very good habitats for tortoises because the sides are too high and there is often not enough floor space. Tortoises also do not understand glass and can run into it. A wider, shallower container will work much better.[1]

A large plastic storage container works well for an indoor habitat. (No top is needed.)

When you need a larger container, you can build or purchase a tortoise table, which is a large wooden enclosure on tall legs.

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Ensure proper UV exposure. In the wild, tortoises bask in the sun to regulate their body temperatures and absorb vitamin D. To keep your tortoise healthy, it's important to simulate this exposure in captivity.[2]

Letting your tortoise out to bask in the natural sunlight for a few hours a week is a good idea. Do not put a glass tank in direct sunlight, however, as this can cause the enclosed area to become too hot.

When your tortoise does not have access to natural sunlight, use a UV lamp to provide artificial sunlight.

The exact amount of UV exposure your tortoise will require depends on the species, but it varies between 8 and 12 hours per day.

Make sure the habitat is the correct heat and humidity. All tortoises need to live in warm habitats. It's a good idea to use heating lamps to create a gradient temperature within the enclosure. One side should be 22°C (70°F), and the other should be 29°C (84°F). The proper humidity level will depend on the species you have, so make sure you properly identify it.[3]

Desert tortoises should be kept in dry habitats, while tropical tortoises should be kept in moist habitats.

Some tortoises may need even warmer habitats, so find out what the requirements are for your species.

You can increase the humidity by moistening the substrate, especially in the area under the basking lamp. You can tilt the pen slightly to keep all of the moisture on one side. This will provide your tortoise with different micro-climates to choose from.[4]

Use the proper base material. There are lots of different bedding materials available at pet stores, but not all of them are good for tortoises. A combination of soft earth and sand is the ideal base layer for tortoises.[5]

Many would add some water in the soil and then thoroughly mix it while discarding any unwanted objects in the process, this will prolong the substrate's freshness which reduces the frequency of substrate changes.

Adding critters such as Earthworms, Springtails, and Pillbugs can help the substrate last much longer through aeration and eating leftover food.

Provide drinking water. Be sure provide your tortoise with a shallow bowl of water for drinking. Change the water regularly to keep it fresh.[7]

Don't be too alarmed if your tortoise doesn't seem to drink much. Some species, especially those that are native to arid climates, drink very little water, but it's still a good idea to have it available for them.

Feed your tortoise a varied diet. Tortoises all need to be fed a varied diet in order to ensure that they get all of the nutrients they need. Each species of tortoise, however, has its own specific dietary needs. Be sure to identify the species of tortoise that you have and feed it a diet that is recommended for that species.[8]

Desert tortoises should be fed a combination of grasses, leafy greens, and cactus flowers, with a small amount of fruit.[9]

Grassland grazers like leopard tortoises should be fed a variety of grasses and leafy green vegetables. You should not feed them other vegetables, fruits, or meat.[10]

Provide vitamins. It's extremely important to supplement a baby tortoise's diet with vitamin D3 and calcium. Tortoises can die without these nutrients, so don't skip this step! A multivitamin is also good for balancing out nutritional needs.[11]

You can buy supplements in powder form at any store that sells supplies for tortoises. You can also crush supplements that come in pill form.

Protect your tortoise from predators. Baby tortoises are extremely vulnerable to predators because they are so small. Take extra care to protect them from animals like dogs, cats, raccoons, and birds.[12]

If you are keeping your tortoise indoors, make sure your other pets do not have access to the enclosure.

If you bring your tortoise outside, be sure to cover the pen with a sturdy metal mesh top to keep predators out.

Keep handling to a minimum. Baby tortoises become stressed easily, so it's important to avoid over-handling them. Gentle petting and hand-feeding are fine, but you should wait until the tortoise is bigger to begin handling it more.[13]

If you do handle the tortoise, be careful not to distress it by flipping it over or dropping it.

Do not allow children to handle the tortoise without supervision or for long periods of time.

Prevent pyramiding. Pyramiding is a condition that is very common among tortoises that are raised in captivity. It occurs when the shell grows in an abnormal way, causing it to become ridged instead of smooth. This condition typically starts developing in the first year or two of life.[14]

Pyramiding may be due to calcium deficiency and/or humidity levels. Try increasing your tortoise's calcium intake by dusting his food with a balanced calcium supplement. You can also try increasing the humidity level in the pen.

Prevent respiratory disease. Respiratory disease is fairly common in captive tortoises. The term "Runny nose syndrome" (RNS) is used to describe upper respiratory infections in tortoises. You can prevent your tortoise from developing this condition by ensuring that the habitat is well-maintained.[15]

Never feed your tortoise junk food, even if it seems to enjoy it. Always stick to the recommended diet for your species.

Be careful not to keep the habitat too moist. There should always be some dry land available.

Let your tortoise have as much exposure to natural sunlight as possible.

Use a substrate material that will not create dust or get lodged in your tortoise's nose.

It's also important to reduce the tortoise's stress and not overcrowd the habitat with too many tortoises.

Where can I find a really cheap tortoise? I want one but I don't want to spend more than $10. I will put in the money for the care and habitat but not the turtle itself. I need to find a cheap one.

Community Answer

Tortoises are expensive to keep and time consuming, as babies especially. Most tortoises are in the $100 or more range for hatchlings. If you don't want to spend money, this isn't the pet for you. Value put into the purchase is a form of encouragement to ensure that you take good care of the tortoise and "cheap" tortoises don't exist because they are not mere commodities but living beings that deserve respect and good care.

My baby leopard tortoise kept scratching its eye and now he is not opening it, what do I do?

Community Answer

A tortoise might get their eyes swollen shut from a vitamin deficiency, dryness, or respiratory infection. I would recommend making sure your tortoise has plenty of water, and perhaps a bowl full of wet soil available. Also, vary his diet, give him something new every day or so. Lastly, get cod liver oil capsules from any drug store: poke a hole in one capsule and drizzle one drop on each eye. If it doesn't change, look for a reptile vet near you.

Put the food between your fingers and keep it near your tortoise. You may have to be patient, but the tortoise will smell the food and come to take a bite. If your tortoise still refuses to eat or drink, you should consult a veterinarian.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

To take care of a baby tortoise, use a large plastic container as a habitat and set up a heat lamp to maintain temperature and humidity. Next, cover the bottom of the container with a combination of earth and sand and provide a shallow bowl of drinking water. Every 1-2 weeks, soak your tortoise in a bowl of room temperature water for 10-15 minutes to keep it hydrated. Feed your tortoise a varied diet and include powdered supplements to keep it healthy!

Reader Success Stories

Jeannie Bottiglieri

Jul 31, 2017

"First-time tortoise owner. I wanted one for about 10 years. I have always loved turtles. Have had several water turtles. I have done a lot of research on tortoises before becoming an owner. I wanted to make sure I was doing everything correctly. This was a very informative article. Thank you for your help. Happy tortoise owner!"..." more

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Deanna Mooney

Sep 5

"Very helpful for anyone contemplating getting a tortoise and very informative even if you're not. Thank you for sharing the article and comments."..." more

TJ

Tia Jones

Aug 23

"I adopted a baby turtle 2 days after I read this, and it was so helpful. It's so good to be prepared."

KM

Kim Murray

Apr 6

"Just received a baby tortoise. We have 2 grown tortoises, but never had a baby. This provided great info. Thanks!"

SK

Shakuntala Kumar

Mar 17

"I provided a rock platform raised above the water level, and they love it and seem happier."

CL

Candace Lee

Sep 29, 2016

"We have a male and female tortoise. They laid eggs and we have four babies, two of which are not alive but the other two are, we just found them in the pen. We check regularly but found them late, I guess. This is the first time for us having babies, and I wanted to check and see what I should be feeding them and how I should be caring for them. I was pretty sure I have them in the house. Your site gave me some answers, thank you. "..." more

JD

Jane Dye

Jul 19, 2016

"We had a tortoise when we were children. I am getting one now as my children have grown up. I haven't had one from a baby, so I found the article honest and helpful, it gave me an idea of what I would need to do before buying one."..." more

SS

Sandra Shapiro

Mar 9, 2017

"A baby tortoise appeared in my yard, approx. 2 weeks old at the time. We are raising Lucky, and she is growing nicely. Your info has helped us immensely. We'd want to do the right things, we've grown to love her."..." more

JG

Jeanne Grero

Nov 5, 2018

"I have a male and female star tortoise and my female is about to lay her eggs. I Googled many articles so that I can help my sweet Nappy girl to have a safe delivery. Thank you."..." more

Samuel Onuoha

Oct 8, 2017

"We saw this yesterday and have be trying to feed it with cucumber and grass, but it has refused to eat and it has been staying quite for long. I don't know what I will do. "..." more

DL

Denny Lesser

Mar 6, 2017

"I found a sulcata in a gutter on the street. Very bad shape.Your advice and others advice has helped tremendously. Baby is now eating and much better. Thank you."..." more

A

Anonymous

Aug 16, 2017

"My brother's box turtle liked to put his head under the water and blow bubbles when he soaked him. Then we got him a dish that he can soak in! "..." more

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Avantika Singh

Mar 10, 2017

"I had got very small tortoise. I was not aware of how to handle the tortoise, but this article helped me in taking care of baby tortoise. "..." more

EL

Erica Lee

Nov 23, 2017

"I learned a lot about caring for a baby tortoise from this article. I wanted to see what is involved before purchasing one. Thank you!"..." more

MK

Mary King

Apr 11, 2016

"Very down to earth with all the information we needed. A pet is a family member and we needed to know we are doing our best for Tink."..." more

AS

Alan S. Joy

Apr 21, 2017

"I just have purchased 4 baby red eared sliders, and this article has given me a lot of helpful information to give them proper care."..." more

Rated this article:

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Julie Jewkes

Oct 29, 2016

"I only knew little bits of information on how to take care of my tortoise but since I read more it's helped me learn more."..." more

Sue Russell

Jul 16, 2017

"Very helpful. I have tons of experience breeding and raising tortoises but I am always looking for new ways to do things."..." more

SV

Sria Velloo

Feb 26, 2017

"This article is fantastic. I'm only 12, and this taught me everything I need to take care of my baby, Turtlewax."

PV

P. V.

Nov 4, 2017

"Soaking in water helps. Mine is a baby and sits in water about once a week. Now I know this is good for it."

EP

Ekta Patel

Nov 20, 2016

"Your article is very nice, I understood very clearly how to take care of a turtle. Thanks for that."

AB

Anna Brash

Jul 16, 2016

"This is great! It told me all the things I've wanted to know over the last couple of months!"

SS

Sana Shaikh

Aug 26, 2017

"Thank you so much. Because of this, I gathered a lot of info for my new tortoise."

AH

Ashley Haran

Apr 18, 2017

"This was perfect for giving me all the info I need to raise a baby tortoise!"